David Johnston, tasked by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in March with looking into allegations that China tried to interfere in the last two federal elections, says he has decided to step down from that role.
In a resignation letter sent to Trudeau, Johnston said his role has become too much of a political controversy for him to continue.
“When I took on the role of independent special rapporteur on foreign interference, my goal was to help build confidence in our democratic institutions,” the former governor general wrote.
“I have concluded that, given the highly partisan atmosphere surrounding my appointment and work, my leadership has had the opposite effect.”
A government source said Johnston made his own decision to resign and the prime minister’s office did not ask for his resignation.
Since his appointment, Johnston has been accused of being unfit for the job because of his personal connections to Trudeau.
Leaders of the Conservative and Bloc Québécois parties have said that Trudeau and Johnston are self-proclaimed friends and that their longstanding ties are too close to allow Johnston to pass judgment on the prime minister’s actions.
Johnston has said that while he was friends with Pierre Trudeau and skied with the Trudeau family when Justin Trudeau and his siblings were children, he has not had any meetings, dinners or personal contact with Trudeau in the past 40 years.
LOOK | Johnston says he has no regrets about taking on the role
David Johnston says he has no regrets about taking on a foreign interference mission
“When you’re asked to serve your country, you do,” Johnston says in an exclusive interview with Power and Politics host David Cochrane.
This did not stop opposition parties questioning Johnston’s inquiry into foreign interference. Even the NDP, which currently has a supply and confidence agreement with the governing Liberals, tabled a motion in the House calling for Johnston to step down because of an “appearance of bias.” The motion passed with the support of the Conservatives and the bloc.
At the time, Johnston said he planned to stay until his term was completed.
In his initial report released last month, Johnston recommended against calling a public inquiry into foreign interference, despite calls for one by opposition parties and diaspora groups.
Intergovernmental Affairs Minister Dominic LeBlanc took aim at the Tories after Johnston’s announcement.
“The Conservative Party’s partisan attacks on the former governor-general were unjustified and are unacceptable. Democracy requires us to rise above partisan considerations,” he said in a statement.
But Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre blamed the Liberals for putting Johnston in a difficult spot and repeated his demand for a public inquiry.
“[Trudeau] has destroyed the reputation of a former Governor General to cover up his own refusal to defend Canada from foreign interests and threats,” he said in a tweet.
Conservative ethics critic Michael Barrett told the CBC that Trudeau was “setting up.” [Johnston] for failure” by not calling for a public inquiry from the outset.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh tweeted that Johnston had “done the right thing” and again called on the government to launch a public inquiry.
LOOK | NDP House leader reacts to Johnston’s resignation
NDP House leader reacts to David Johnston’s resignation
NDP House Leader Peter Julian says Power & Politics MPs should choose a replacement for special rapporteur David Johnston. ‘Must be [someone] non-partisan Let’s work together to find this person and the mandate so we can get it going.”
In a separate statement, Singh said he respected Johnston but had “fallen victim to the Liberal government’s flawed handling of foreign interference”.
“When we filed our motion calling for the special rapporteur to withdraw, we said the appearance of bias was too much to continue. I have always thought Mr. Johnston is an honorable man and today’s decision proves that,” he said. said Singh.
Former Conservative leader Erin O’Toole took a similar tone, tweeting that Johnston is an “exceptional Canadian” and that his service to Canada has been “extraordinary.”
“It is so disappointing that the Prime Minister is using his stellar reputation as a political shield,” O’Toole said.
LOOK | Bloc Québécois MP says Johnston ‘did the right thing’
“I think he did the right thing,” says the federal minister after the resignation of the special rapporteur
“It should have been done much earlier so that public trust is not so damaged,” Bloc Québécois MP and ethics critic René Villemure told Power & Politics on Friday, referring to David Johnston’s resignation as special rapporteur for foreign interference. “I think it was a difficult job to entertain in the first place.”
Bloc Québécois ethics critic René Villemure told CBC News Network’s Power & Politics that resigning was “the only option” for Johnston. He also said his party still expects the government to call a public inquiry.
“I think it’s time to move on, do something right and let the populations know what the risks are and what’s at stake,” she told host David Cochrane.
Before his resignation, questions were also raised about the people Johnston chose to work with during his investigation.
On Tuesday, the Globe and Mail reported that Sheila Block, a lawyer Johnston hired to help with his work, had donated to the Liberal Party in the past.
Read Johnston’s resignation letter:
Johnston also told the House affairs and procedure committee Tuesday that he has received unpaid informal advice from Don Guy, former chief of staff to former Ontario Liberal premier Dalton McGuinty, and Brian Topp, head of Rachel Notley’s cabinet when she was NDP premier. of Alberta.
CBC also reported last week that Johnston had hired communications crisis firm Navigator early in his tenure and that taxpayers were footing the bill.
Johnston cut ties with the company after it was revealed that Navigator had also worked with independent MP Han Dong, who was the subject of the former governor-general’s initial investigation and report.
LOOK | Former National Conservative campaign manager on Johnston’s resignation
‘I was totally surprised’: Former Tory national campaign manager reacts to Johnston’s resignation
Fred Delorey, former Conservative national campaign director, talks to Power and Politics about David Johnston’s resignation as special rapporteur on foreign interference.
In his resignation letter, Johnston insisted that he does not believe a public inquiry is a “useful way” to address foreign interference, given that much of the intelligence associated with the issue is classified. But he asked Trudeau to appoint a new speaker.
“Ideally we would consult with the opposition parties to identify the right candidates to lead this effort,” he wrote.
Johnston was due to begin public hearings next month. In his letter, he asks that they continue under new leadership.
The letter says he will resign no later than the end of June after delivering a short final report.
LeBlanc’s statement said he would consult with experts and opposition parties about a replacement for Johnston.
